| Main Entry: | advance directive |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | a legal document written in which the signer asks not to be kept alive by extraordinary medical effort when suffering from terminal illness or severely disabled; a prior statement of refusal to permit certain types of medical treatment; also called living will, health-care directive, directive to physicians |
| Example: | An advance directive takes effect if you cannot communicate your own health-care decisions. |
| Usage: | law |
Advance Directive
A document expressing a person's wishes about critical care when he or she is unable to decide for him or herself. However, it does not authorize anyone to act on a person's behalf or make decisions the way a power of attorney would.
Investopedia Commentary
With an advance directive, individuals have the power to make future decisions about their own critical care without outside influence. A person who wishes or does not wish to be placed upon life support can create an advance directive that will be followed by hospital staff should the person become incapacitated.
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See also: Bequest, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Will